Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-27
A TALK WITH MIR. BLAINE.
What He Said 20 q Friend who haa
Recently Returned from Paris.

STORY ABOUT AN ENGLISH DINNER PARTY THAT
Mr. BLAINE sURPRIsED-HIs PERSONAL HABITS
AND PRESENT HKALTH-ro WINTER IN ITALY AND
HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING.
personal friend OF Mr. Blaine who left him
two weeks ago In Paris, and is now In Lewiston,
Me-. quotes Mr.. Blaine as saying:
1--WE lead very quiet life here. am not talk
ing politics nor rushing about sightseeing to the
exclusion OF comfort / was out to Versailles to
see the election Of the president OF the French
public, after crisis phenomenal and particularly
interesting TO an American. l have been very
kindly received by French statesmen, and have
had excellent opportunities to study French poll
tics. The more l study legislative assemblies in
the old world the more I perceive that
our American Congress is the most dignified
and orderly OF the law-maklng bodies on the
giooe- think / never felt better In my life.
1 ascrloe my vigorous health to two causes
flrst, was porn with good body and worked
on pennsylvania farm In my younger days. Life
on farm in boyhood makes for vigor OF days in
perately. have eschewed intoxicantS and tobac-
co from my college days and / have never burned
dishes at table. Pastry never take Thus owe
my good health TO plenty OF moderation and a
husv o ea 10 s.a[. Win. NY ille mas oeen
physical forces severely. There has almost never
Deen any respite until this journey. Twenty
Years OF Congress was witten on the heels OF a
most exacting political contest and these were
preceded by pubic life that gave neither mind
nor body u rest Hence you may imagine enjoy
this breathing spell"
As TO what most impressed him in comparing
the Old world with the new, he said in substance:
''Ihe marvellous growth OF the United states is
an industrial and democratic phenomenon which
the so-cslled upper classes OF Europe unable to
comprehend. twenty-five years ago the repre-
sentatlves or artstocratic ideas In Europe sneered
at America and Americans but now all this is
changed The utmost respect and courtesy are
shown Americans throughout Europe, and In
England especially"
Mr.. Blaine goes to Italy for the winter The
Maine sculptor Simmons, has engaged him a very
comfortable suite OF rooms In Rome, to which city
he Will devote the larger part OF the winter
months. An audience with the king OF Italy and
other notabes Will be accorded him. Said Mr..
Bla1neS friend:
II heard a story in London, which / think is
strictly correct One evening Mr.. Blaine was being
entertained at dinner by distinguished Londoner,
tween Great Britain and the United States. One
OF the members OF the British parliament, who sat
Dy Mr.. Blaine, goOd-naturedly criticised Mr.. Blaine
for the form or OF his dispatches to the English
government when Blaine was Secretary OF state.
1t seemed 10 me at the time,' said the English
statesman, that you were little discourteOus TO
England when you said in your dispatch TO her
majesJys government that the United States ex-
poets such and such things OF England Mr..
Blaine turned TO his critic with the utmost nom
chalance and said: you forget, my dear SIR, that
merely copied phrase OF a dispatch from her
maJeStyS government to the United states In the
darkest period or our civil war The tables are
now turned. Then, when we were In trouble, Eng
land expected my country TO do such and such
things. Now, If you win pardon me, the United
states is In position To quote The phraseology
and send 1t back again."